Page 23 of The Alien I Fell in Love with on Walpurgis Night

“How long ago were you at the military academy together?”

“Well, you must know. It was what?” Fox looks at me. I want to stop him but I don’t know how, “It was about thirty years ago.” This isn’t going to add up with what I told her before about my age, but I knew human’s lifespans were much shorter than Alliance ones and I didn’t want to alarm her by telling her my real age.

“That’s a long time,” she says evenly. “What age does that put you both at?”

“You don’t know how old your husband is?”

“Love knows no age and you all look so young.”

Fox is completely enthralled with Georgiana. “Forty nine and that’s imperial years, of course. Only one more year to find a wife. Less for Commander Axl, as I recall, he’s older than me. But then what am I saying, you’re already married.”

“Imperial years, of course. Can you help me with the math?”

“About seventy five Earth years,” I supply.

“Seventy five, you say? That makes both of you close to retirement?”

Fox laughs. “Oh no, I’ll definitely die at my post at the age of two hundred or more and I’m sure Commander Axl is the same. Men like us, we don’t retire.”

“Speak for yourself, Fox. I’ve a wife.”

“And seven sacred children on the way,” Georgiana adds.

I look at Georgiana but she’s feigning bashfulness as she takes a bite of her food with the wrong fork. It’s exceedingly difficult not to be enchanted by her, even if she does believe this is all a game because she’s playing it exceptionally well. It’s rare for anyone to impress me, especially one so young.

“And, of course, we must think of the children,” I say.

“Given that’s the case, Commander Fox, do you really think it’s necessary we get these binding tattoos?” Georgiana asks in such an innocent voice; she surprises both Fox and me.

“I’m sorry, it’s Alliance Force policy. It’s the ultimate commitment between a husband and wife. It’s so we are certain every Alliance and human couple we are signing off are truly married. We were too nice before and it backfired.”

Georgiana puts down her fork and pulls the sleeves back on her navy blue dress revealing her flawless light colored pink skin. “You see, I wouldn’t want to mark my skin with anything. I know my skin isn’t slate, the right color, the color any of you would like it to be. But I thank the goddesses for how they made me, and I worry that to mark myself might go against their will and anger them. I’ll, of course, always be faithful to Axl. I always have been. I’ve known no other man.”

I want to smile at her brilliance, but I don’t want to interrupt this stunning performance. I look over at Fox. He’s smitten with her as well.

“I didn’t realize you were so devout, my dear,” Fox says and then looks at me. “You could’ve mentioned this Commander. This changes everything. You see, normally we see human women who resist the goddesses and their true origins as the Lost People.”

“So you’re saying you’ll forgo the tattoos for us?” Georgiana asks politely, her brown eyes large and pleading.

“I wouldn’t want to see your pink skin marred, but…”

“Please Commander Fox. I’m already sacrificing so much at the goddesses’ request by returning to the Empire. I promise you; no man has ever touched me but Axl and no other man ever will.”

“Well, given Commander Axl’s position in the Empire and that you’re here with me, I’m sure yours is a true marriage and we can forgo the usual binding tattoo requirements just this once.”

Georgiana gives Fox a big smile. “The goddesses and I thank you, Commander Fox. I’ll mention you in my prayers.”

Fox actually blushes.

Goddesses what is going on here? Is this human witchcraft? I don’t think I can ever let Georgiana go. She is the most wonderful woman I have ever encountered. She makes eye contact with me, her brown eyes sparkling. She still thinks this is a game. But it doesn’t stop my reaction to her. Looking into her eyes, I’m sure this is love. My heart is beating faster, my stomach feels light and I feel euphoric. If someone were to question Fox’s decision in this, he could back up his choice to allow us to forgo the binding tattoos with the recorded physical reactions we’re displaying right now, I have no doubt, all our physical readouts are reading ‘love.’ This must be a common medical register on the Alliance Force base given their need for marriage bracelets.

“We’re having such a good night, let’s celebrate with a puzzle jug,” Fox suggests.

“What’s a puzzle jug?” Georgiana asks.

“It’s late,” I try to stop this.

But it’s as if neither Georgiana nor Fox hears me. He’s already calling for one of his officers to bring his newest puzzle jug with some zota. When it arrives, I know this is going to be a long night as I eye the large porcelain jug with black floral paintings. It’s placed in the middle of the table and zota is poured in.

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